
How to Survive Your First Date
8:46 mins
United States of America
Feb 25, 2023
In Competition
Directed and written by Reese Robers, this inventive short film is a creative and dark parody that takes inspiration from 1950s-era instructional films. The plot centers on two characters, Dotty and her date, Darryl, played by Sara Drewry and Charles Meidlinger, as they attempt to navigate the social pitfalls of a first date. However, the film subverts the traditional instructional format by introducing a voyeuristic and manipulative narrator. This unseen presence acts as an antagonist, turning the ostensibly simple act of dating into a high-stakes scenario where the characters must "survive" the narrator's controlling influence.
As a narrative short, the film stands out for its unique concept and stylistic commitment to mimicking old black-and-white educational footage, using this familiar framework to explore themes of social pressure, external control, and the anxious experience of dating under scrutiny.
Director, Writer, Producer
Reese Robers
Cast
Sara Drewry — Dotty
Charles Meidlinger — Darryl
Editor
Reese Robers
Otto Tyler
Cinematographer
Otto Tyler
Associate Producer
James Lee
About
Reese Robers
Reese started making films in the tenth grade, and since then, she has absolutely fallen in love with the process. She especially enjoyed mimicking distinct styles of film, which he aimed to do with How to Survive Your First Date and its 1950's instructional video format, so that its twist could be as surprising and impactful as possible given its source material.















